My journey to the 70.3 World Championships has been exciting. I qualified at a race where I didn't expect to, I placed high enough at another race where I earned that spot again, and I've spent the last six months learning to believe in myself. Learning to accept the fact that I am a strong athlete who deserves to be at a race where the best in the world compete. I hit a couple rough patches emotionally, with my training this summer and I was really worried that they were going to really negatively impact my performance on race. However, the closer the race came the more I came to realize that my goal for this race was to celebrate. To celebrate being able to compete. To celebrate being healthy. To celebrate being able to travel to gorgeous venues with my family to do something as fulfilling as racing.
My first order of business as soon as we touched down in Nice was to get checked in. I still didn't quite believe it that I could race on Saturday. I stood there in the check-in line looking at all of the other athletes and thinking: they all looked very fit, they all look very fast, they all look pretty comfortable being here, I don't recognize half the languages being spoken around me, and I was actually one of them.
Once I had my wristband and check-in packet I breathed a sigh of relief and was ready to have a great weekend. The vibe is definitely different at a world championship race than just a regular race. There's more of everything! Athletes, pros, gear, Ironman village, and photo ops.
When I raced Gulf Coast I met Alexis and Rachel. Lexi and I have been talking and texting ever since May and have become pretty good friends. She qualified in Gulf Coast and so we looked forward to meeting up in Nice. Friday morning the two of us went for a ride and a run. I really enjoy talking with Lexi. We snapped a picture after our workout and assumed we'd see each other race day. I feel so bad but I never saw her before the race, couldn't find her on the run, and she never made it into the athlete recovery area afterwards so I didn't get to talk to her then either! Serious bummer.
Time to check in those gear bags and bikes!
Race morning felt just like any other race morning. Surprisingly my butterflies weren't nearly as big as they have been in other races. It probably had something to do with the fact that I had no expectations for myself at this race. I didn't have to win, I just had to experience and enjoy. I got to T1 really early so I could avoid any extra stress and it was definitely the way to go. I sat and chatted with Jeremy and other athletes while I waited.
My wave didn't start until about 45 min. after the pros started so I had a long time to sit and wait. I warmed up a bit, which was great for calming my nerves, then headed over to the corrals. Even though these are the best athletes in the world, Dan still wanted me front and center and to take top 10 in the swim. I thought he was crazy but I thought I'd give it a shot. The gun sounded and I was off. I pushed hard, focused on my form, and tried to keep an eye out for jellyfish or other sea creatures. The Mediterranean Sea is a beautiful deep blue. I can't see the bottom after just a couple dozen yards so I don't know how quickly it drops off, but it looked deep...and slightly scary. It was also the saltiest water I have ever swam in. I was prepared for that by some pre race swimming so I'm glad that didn't come as a shock. I worked my way up through the age groups and hoped that I had given enough to finish where I needed to.
I came out of the water feeling fabulous. I grabbed my gear bag, threw on my bike gear, and headed off to the bike.
I was a little worried about the bike, how could I not be? The elevation map said that it was 30 miles of straight climbing before you get that downhill back home. We had driven the course the night before and I was a little intimidated. Some of the climbs were really steep. Some of the turns were pretty sharp. And the Col du Vence kept going and going and going. Don't get me wrong, it was a gorgeous course, but I was still nervous. I settled into gear and just started riding. I was really glad that we had driven the course so I knew what to expect. It made a world of difference. But as I climbed I couldn't help but think that it wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. I was climbing and it was tough, but so was I. I wish I had my camera because it was probably the most stunning course I have ever ridden. There were cliffs, drop-offs, villages nestled among the hills, and beautiful winding mountain roads. When I summited Col du Vence I almost couldn't believe that the hard part was over. All the was left was the descent, and let's be honest that is almost scarier in some ways than the climb. It wasn't very crowded so I could pick a line and follow it around every turn. I knew where the gnarliest turns were and which ones I really had to slow down for, but really I could just feel my line and fly. I thought I'd have to ride my brakes but I didn't have to at all. It was actually easier than the Flagstaff descent which was surprising. I also made it through the whole course with no flat tires which is such a relief.
When I pulled back into Nice I was feeling pretty good. My tummy was giving me a little grief and I was worried that I would need to make multiple potty stops during the run which normally doesn't happen race day. I saw my cheering squad and was so happy to see them. They had huge smiles on their faces and I loved the posters they made. I started my run feeling pretty good, but a potty stop at mile two halted my best pacing. I had a hard time coming back from that and the rest of the time I couldn't find my groove. I was distracted by looking for Lexi, feeling yucky, and feeling a little outmatched by that point. I held my own on the swim. I did a fair job on the bike. But everyone there was a really strong runner and I was being passed by athlete after athlete. It was a bit depressing to be giving up so much time.
When it was time to cross the finish line I was really excited to have completed a world championship race, but more relieved that it was done. I have conflicting emotions about my performance at the race. I was really proud of my swim. I mean fourth in the world?! That's pretty cool. My bike was respectable. It was a hard course and I had a solid ride. My run was just ok. I didn't fully commit to the pain and I'm a little disappointed in myself because of that.
I loved the large athlete recovery area because I could stay there long enough to feel a bit better, eat something, and have a massage before I found my cheering squad. Jeremy and the kids were so proud of me and I have to say that it was pretty heart warming to know that I have support from these stellar people. One thing this race did was make me want to race at a championship race again. I'm going to New Zealand 2020 and this time I'm going to place in that top 10%. Who knows, maybe even the top 10.
Swim- 28:37, T1- 3:56, Bike- 3:16:34, T2- 2:03, Run- 1:52:19, Final time- 5:43:30
